CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY GIFT FROM
Alfred C. Barnes
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http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924029308503
THE FIFTH BOOK OF MACCABEES:
CONTAINING A RECORD OF EVENTS FROM THE TRANSLATION OF THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES INTO GREEK UNDER PTOLEMY PHILADELPHUS, (B.C. 277,) TO THE DEATH OF HEROD’s TWO SONS, IN THE FIFTH OR SIXTH YEAR BEFORE CHRIST.
CHAPTER XIa
B.C. 163
The relation of the battle between Judas and Lysias the general of Eupator after the death of king Antiochus
The name of Antiochus, of whom mention has been made before was Epiphanius: but the name of his son who reigned after him was Eupator, who also was named Antiochus. And when the battles of Judas with these generals had taken place, theyb wrote on the subject to Eupator; who sent with Lysias, his cousin’s son, a large army, in which were eighty thousand horsemen and eighty elephants. Who coming to a city which is called Bethnerc, pitched their camp around it, and besieged it, because it was a large city, and many people was therein. And Lysias raised engines of war around it, and began to besiege the inhabitants: which being told to
Judas, he himself and his company went out to some fortified mountainsd; and there they abode; lest if they remained in any city, Lysias should come and besiege it, and should overpower them. Judas therefore collected his company, and resolved to march with them to Lysias’ camp, after they have gone to the house of God and offered sacrifices in it; beseeching the great and good God to turn away from them the malice of their enemies, and to grant them victory over which thing they did. After this, they marched from the region of the holy house to Bethner. For they had designed to come upon the army suddenly, and to defeat it without a struggle.
Now men say that there appeared to Judas lo a certain personage between heaven and earth, riding on a fiery horse, and holding in his hand a large spear, with which he smote the army of the Gentilese. So that what they had seen gave them additional courage and spirits. And they made haste and charged the army and slew great numbers of its men. Wherefore the enemy’s array was troubled and thrown into the greatest confusion, and the whole of it betook itself to a confused flight. And the sword of Judas and his company pressed sore upon them; and he slew of them eleven thousand footmen, and sixteen hundred horsemen, Lysias also was chased, with his company, to a distant place, in which he remained in safety.
And he sent to Judas, desiring him to be subject to the king, retaining his own and his people’s religion: to whom Judas consented in this matter, until word could be written to the king, and an answer of his agreeing thereto could be received. And Judas wrote concerning this business: Lysias also wrote to the king, informing him of what had happened, and what proof he had had of the strength and bravery of the Jewish nation; and that a continuation of wars with them would exterminate his men, as these before mentioned had been exterminated: he told him also their agreement, and his own waiting until he should receive a letter to say what he must do. To whom the king replied that it seemed right to him to make peace with the nation of the Jews, taking away that stumbling block concerning the exercise of their religion: for that this very thing had incited them to the revolts, and to the attacks made on his predecessors. He also commanded him to make with them a treaty of peace and obedience; so that no obstacles should be thrown in their way in the matter of religion. He wrote also to Judas, and to all the Jews who were in the land of Judah, according to this effect: and this peace continued between them for some space of time.
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